Modification of extracorporeal photopheresis technology with porphyrin precursors. Comparison between 8-methoxypsoralen and hexaminolevulinate in killing human T-cell lymphoma cell lines in vitro

Background

Extracorporeal photopheresis that exposes isolated white blood cells to 8-methoxypsoralen (8-MOP) and ultraviolet-A (UV-A) light is used for the management of cutaneous T-cell lymphoma and graft-versus-host disease. 8-MOP binds to DNA of both tumor and normal cells, thus increasing the risk of carcinogenesis of normal cells; and also kills both tumor and normal cells with no selectivity after UV-A irradiation. Hexaminolevulinate (HAL)-induced protoporphyrin-IX is a potent photosensitizer that localizes at membranous structures outside of the nucleus of a cell. HAL-mediated photodynamic therapy selectively destroys activated/transformed lymphocytes and induces systemic anti-tumor immunity. The aim of the present study was to explore the possibility of using HAL instead of 8-MOP to kill cells after UV-A exposure.

Methods

Human T-cell lymphoma Jurkat and Karpas 299 cell lines were used to evaluate cell photoinactivation after 8-MOP and/or HAL plus UV-A light with cell proliferation and long term survival assays. The mode of cell death was also analyzed by fluorescence microscopy.

Results

Cell proliferation was decreased by HAL/UV-A, 8-MOP/UV-A or HAL/8-MOP/UV-A. At sufficient doses, the cells were killed by all the regimens; however, the mode of cell death was dependent on the treatment conditions. 8-MOP/UV-A produced apoptotic death exclusively; whereas both apoptosis and necrosis were induced by HAL/UV-A.

Conclusion

8-MOP can be replaced by HAL to inactivate the Jurkat and Karpas 299 T-cell lymphoma cells after UV-A irradiation via apoptosis and necrosis. This finding may have an impact on improved efficacy of photopheresis.     

Tetrahydroquinazole-based secondary sulphonamides as carbonic anhydrase inhibitors: synthesis,biological evaluation against isoforms I,II, IV,and IX,and computational studies

A library of variously decorated N-phenyl secondary sulphonamides featuring the bicyclic tetrahydroquinazole scaffold was synthesised and biologically evaluated for their inhibitory activity against human carbonic anhydrase (hCA) I, II, IV, and IX. Of note, several compounds were identified showing submicromolar potency and excellent selectivity for the tumour-related hCA IX isoform. Structure–activity relationship data attained for various substitutions were rationalised by molecular modelling studies in terms of both inhibitory activity and selectivity.     

Tick salivary secretion as a source of antihemostatics

Ticks are mostly obligatory blood feeding ectoparasites that have an impact on human and animal health. In addition to direct damage due to feeding, some tick species serve as the vectors for the causative agents of several diseases, such as the spirochetes of the genus Borrelia causing Lyme disease, the virus of tick-borne encephalitis, various Rickettsial pathogens or even protozoan parasites like Babesia spp. Hard ticks are unique among bloodfeeders because of their prolonged feeding period that may last up to two weeks. During such a long period of blood uptake, the host develops a wide range of mechanisms to prevent blood loss. The arthropod ectoparasite, in turn, secretes saliva in the sites of bite that assists blood feeding. Indeed, tick saliva represents a rich source of proteins with potent pharmacologic action that target different mechanisms of coagulation, platelet aggregation and vasoconstriction. Tick adaptation to their vertebrate hosts led to the inclusion of a powerful protein armamentarium in their salivary secretion that has been investigated by high-throughput methods. The resulting knowledge can be exploited for the isolation of novel antihemostatic agents. Here we review the tick salivary antihemostatics and their characterized functions at the molecular and cellular levels.     

Photodamage to spores of Fusarium fungi sensitized by protoporphyrin IX

The photodynamic effect on the state of hydrated spores of micopathogen genus Fusarium and germination of conidia on a nutrient medium was studied using protoporphyrin IX as a sensitizer. It was shown that micromolar concentrations of protoporphyrin IX sensitize photooxidation of proteins and lipids in hydrated spores of Fusarium poae and Fusarium culmorum fungi under illumination of their suspensions at doses of 50–200 kJ/m². Photosensitized oxidation of cell components leads to damage the permeability of membranes and suppress spore germination during their further cultivation on the nutrient medium.     

Porphyrin binding and distortion and substrate specificity in the ferrochelatase reaction: the role of active site residues

The specific insertion of a divalent metal ion into tetrapyrrole macrocycles is catalyzed by a group of enzymes called chelatases. Distortion of the tetrapyrrole has been proposed to be an important component of the mechanism of metallation. We present the structures of two different inhibitor complexes: (1) N-methylmesoporphyrin (N-MeMP) with the His183Ala variant of Bacillus subtilis ferrochelatase; (2) the wild-type form of the same enzyme with deuteroporphyrin IX 2,4-disulfonic acid dihydrochloride (dSDP). Analysis of the structures showed that only one N-MeMP isomer out of the eight possible was bound to the protein and it was different from the isomer that was earlier found to bind to the wild-type enzyme. A comparison of the distortion of this porphyrin with other porphyrin complexes of ferrochelatase and a catalytic antibody with ferrochelatase activity using normal-coordinate structural decomposition reveals that certain types of distortion are predominant in all these complexes. On the other hand, dSDP, which binds closer to the protein surface compared to N-MeMP, does not undergo any distortion upon binding to the protein, underscoring that the position of the porphyrin within the active site pocket is crucial for generating the distortion required for metal insertion. In addition, in contrast to the wild-type enzyme, Cu²⁺-soaking of the His183Ala variant complex did not show any traces of porphyrin metallation. Collectively, these results provide new insights into the role of the active site residues of ferrochelatase in controlling stereospecificity, distortion and metallation.     

Efficient protein expression from the endogenous RNA polymerase I promoter using a human ribosomal DNA targeting vector

Vector systems to deliver, integrate and express therapeutic genes in host cells are essential for gene therapy. In the present study, we investigated a novel vector system for integration and expression of a transgene. In this system, the transgene expression was driven by an endogenous RNA polymerase I (Pol I) promoter after being integrated into the ribosomal DNA (rDNA) locus. Human coagulation factor IX coding sequence (FIX), with an internal ribosome entry sites element at its leader region, was targeted into the 18S rDNA locus via homologous recombination. FIX protein expression, which was under the control of the endogenous Pol I promoter, was found to be similar to that of a moderate Pol II promoter. The average FIX expression level of the rDNA recombinants was additionally enhanced to that from a strong Pol II promoter as a result of elimination of position effects. Our data suggest the possibility of applying this system in gene therapy for hereditary diseases.     

Recent advances in chlorophyll biosynthesis

The importance of chlorophyll (Chl) to the process of photosynthesis is obvious, and there is clear evidence that the regulation of Chl biosynthesis has a significant role in the regulation of assembly of the photosynthetic apparatus. The understanding of Chl biosynthesis has rapidly advanced in recent years. The identification of genetic loci associated with each of the biochemical steps has been accompanied by a greater appreciation of the role of Chl biosynthesis intermediates in intracellular signaling. The purpose of this review is to provide a source of information for all the steps in Chl and bacteriochlorophyll a biosynthesis, with an emphasis on steps that are believed to be key regulation points.     

人凝血因子IX突变型研究现状

血友病B是一种性连锁隐性遗传病,其发病机制是位于X染色体上的人凝血因子IX(hFIX)基因发生了突变,导致血浆中hFIX含量或活性大幅下降,从而使得内源性凝血途径受到阻碍,无法进行正常的凝血。文章综述了hFIX基因及其编码蛋白质的结构和功能,并分类详细论述了血友病B中发现的几种主要突变类型。其中包括奠基者效应造成的突变、调控区的突变、编码区的突变、内含子剪切位点的突变及另外两种较为特殊的突变,同时介绍了这些突变所造成的生物学效应。最后还简要介绍了一种能提高hFIX蛋白凝血活性的突变类型(第338位Arg→Ala),并对其应用作了展望。     

基于凝血因子IX基因剔除小鼠建立血友病乙转基因动物模型

为在凝血基因IX基因剔除小鼠基础上建立基因组中整合有含特定点突变的人凝血因子IX基因表达载体原转基因小鼠家系,为血友病乙的研究提供更接近临床实际的动物模型。利用体外定点突变技术,构建含有特定点突变的人凝因IX基因表达载体,该载体包括由人凝血因子IX编码区及第一内含子构成的人凝血因子IX基因（hFIXml）、4个拷贝的MCK增强子（MCKe）、鸡β－肌动蛋白启动子（bA）及PolyA,命名为pMe4bAIXml质粒。将其线性化后,用显微注射法注射入817只凝血因子IX基因剔除小鼠受精卵雄原核,再将它们分别回输45只假孕受体母鼠的输卵管中,共产仔69只,存活63只。采用PCR与基因组Southern杂交筛选法鉴定小鼠,证实6只小鼠基因组中整合有含特定点突变的pMe4bAIXml质粒,并对1只小鼠的PCR产物进行测序,证实转基因结构特征符合设计要求。